Farmer's Favorite

Fortunately, Village Chief Lin was able to resist.

He propped one hand on the table next to him, suppressing the panic in his heart, and asked, "Where's Zhuang Xinyan?"

"Brother Zhuang and Uncle Wu are still watching the bandits in the mountains, what should we do, village chief?"

Village head Lin didn't answer, but asked, "Did they say anything?"

The boy shook his eyes in a panic, "Uncle Wu only said that the fourth son should take Wenzheng and Xiaoyi to Brother Zhuang's house to stay."

After hearing this, Village Chief Lin suddenly had an idea. He waved his fingers and said, "You two should go to the town to report to the officials, and let everyone in the village go to the dealer first."

Bandits appear in the mountains, but it is not certain whether they will come down the mountain or not.

It is unrealistic for all the people in the village to escape out of the village. It just so happens that Zhuang Xinyan's house is big and strong enough, and the bandits will not be able to attack for a while when they go down the mountain.

"Village chief, I... I'm afraid."

But who would have thought that the two boys at the door were so weak that they couldn't walk at all, they supported the door panel with their hands to stabilize their bodies. One was afraid of bandits, and they had never dealt with people in the yamen. Seeing them, they all bowed their heads and left as soon as possible. How could they dare to report to the officials.

Village head Lin was furious, but he calmed down and said: "Your father and your elder brothers have all gone far away, so the rest of the village are old, weak and young or their family members. If you can't support them In the sky, who else can stand up?"

There was a hint of choking in the calm voice.

It made a few young men blush when they heard it.

All of them clenched their fists, cheered themselves up, and settled the matter.

There are about one hundred households in Xishan Village, except for the men who sell salted eggs and some people who go to the surrounding area to sell flower cakes, there are two or three hundred people left in the village.

Zhuang Xinyan's house was built so big that he could fit it all in if he wanted, but it was crowded. In the house, everyone was standing and sitting, but no one dared to make a loud noise. They all looked at the gate nervously. direction.

Lin Qi kept worrying on his face.

The chance of bandits going down the mountain is very small, but Zhuang Xinyan doesn't know what's going on in the mountains. Although he and Uncle Wu are both good at skills, the person they are facing is a bandit. Who would know that this bandit Will there be many people?

With so many people, they were suppressing their breath and trying not to make any movement.

And the weather is cold, there is no room to stay in the house, except for the little baby and the elderly, they all stay in the courtyard.

I don't know how long I have been waiting.

One person asked in a low voice: "There has been no movement for so long, could it be a mistake?"

"Probably not. My father found the notice in the town with his front foot, and found the bandits on the mountain with his back foot. It shouldn't be such a coincidence."

Lin Qi turned his head to look at a voice with a correct accent and a fresh meaning, only to realize that this person was Lin Xiaoshuang whom he hadn't seen for a long time.

Even when he was young, he had envied Lin Xiaoshuang.

It's not that I envy his beautiful face, but even if it's a twin, Lin Xiaoshuang is very doted on by his family.

But who would have thought that the family who loved him so much would actually sell him for 20 taels of silver.I haven't seen her for so many years, but Lin Xiaoshuang hasn't changed much. She is fresh and handsome, with a straight nose and thin lips, making her unforgettable at a glance.

Lin Xiaoshuang also looked over at this time, and with a smile on his lips, he nodded slightly.

Lin Qi responded with a slight nod, but did not talk.

At this time, the door was knocked.

Everyone's hearts tightened, all eyes were on the direction of the gate, and no one dared to make a sound.

'Crack clap clap clap. '

After several consecutive door knocks, a familiar voice sounded, "Lin Qi, it's me."

Lin Qi's face burst into joy, he hurried forward, opened the door, and before he could take a good look at the people outside, he was hugged tightly by the man with a familiar aura.

Lin Qi was worried, and Zhuang Xinyan was also worried.

After going down the mountain, he and Wu Tingyi found that there was no movement of anyone in the village. Although they knew that the chance of an accident was not high, they ran back quickly, just for fear of any accident. Fortunately, the person in their arms was fine.

"Cough cough."

With a light cough, Lin Qi blushed, and quickly pushed away the person who was holding him in his arms. Although Zhuang Xinyan took the initiative, he forgot that the whole village was behind him.

Only then did Zhuang Xinyan realize that the house was full.

There was no embarrassment at all. Although he loosened the hand that hugged Lin Qi's waist, he turned and put it on Lin Qi's shoulder. He said, "Village Chief, this is it?"

Village head Lin quickly explained: "Didn't you say that there are bandits? I thought it would be safer to gather everyone together, so I decided to arrange it at your house. Excuse me."

Immediately afterwards, he asked again: "How? Are there really bandits on the mountain?"

Zhuang Xinyan said: "Yes, but it's not enough evidence. About thirty or forty people are hiding in the cave in the back mountain."

While talking, glanced to the side from the corner of the eye, and saw the man who was supposed to be standing behind him strode forward, picked up Xiaoyi, and wrapped his arms around Wenzheng's shoulders brightly, extremely... …shameless.

Looking back, he continued: "We didn't startle the snake, we can just let the people from the government office go up the mountain to arrest people."

"Okay, okay." Village head Lin said repeatedly, "I have sent people to report to the officials, but they haven't come yet at this time, so I'd better go there myself."

He didn't leave the village because he was worried about the people in the village before, but now that Zhuang Xinyan is back, he also believes that the safety of the people in the village must be guaranteed, so he should make such a trip.

After all, for such a long time, the four sons and the boys have not made any movement, and they are afraid that something will happen to them in the town.

Village head Lin took a few people with him, borrowed Zhuang Xinyan's donkey cart, and left the village.

And the people in the house did not disperse, after all, the bandits were still on the top of the mountain, who knew if they would suddenly run down the mountain.

Zhuang Xinyan looked at it, and he said: "Grandma Ma, there are a lot of cured meat in the storeroom, please bring a few aunts to cook in the kitchen."

"How can this work? You won't be hungry if you don't eat a meal."

"That's right, there are so many of us, how can we eat you."

The people who heard it all waved their hands and refused. There are hundreds of people, even if the dealer can provide so much food, they can't eat it. How much food will be eaten by their family for this meal.

"It's nothing, I don't know how long I'll have to wait. Adults can be hungry but children can't." Zhuang Xinyan really didn't care about such a meal, he said: "There are not so many bowls and chopsticks at home, so I have to let the children eat." People go to the homes of the villagers to get some."

Lin Ma saw that Zhuang Xinyan was sincere, so she also persuaded: "Let's cook a meal first, if I really feel sorry, after this matter is over, I will make up for it."

Even Lin Mashi also opened his mouth.

They all accepted, as Lin Mashi said, the big deal is to wait until the matter is over, and then send some food to the dealer.

In this way, more than a dozen aunts were assigned to cook in the stove outside.

The stove house is close, so I don't worry if it will be unsafe.

Besides, when building the stove house, Zhuang Xinyan prepared six stoves, and these big pots of dishes can feed more than 200 people, which is not impossible.

A few more boys were separated, and they went to the homes of the surrounding villagers to bring some tableware, chopsticks, tables and chairs.

Thus.

The house, which should have been a tense atmosphere, suddenly became bustling and bustling, as if it was a festival, and everyone had smiles on their faces, as if they had forgotten about the bandits.

Lin Xiaoshuang was also sitting with his family at this time.

The most talked about topics in my ears are all about the owner of this house.

In fact, when he saw Zhuang Xinyan, he was also surprised. Maybe it was because he had spent more time with the master and knew how to look at people. The first feeling that Zhuang Xinyan gave him was not ordinary. Farmhouse.

But thinking about it, being able to build such a big house in the village has turned the entire village into an earth-shaking change. How can such a person be an ordinary person.

"Lin Qi is also lucky. If Xiaoshuang of our family was born a few years later, how could it be his turn?" Lin De's daughter-in-law said in a low voice, look at this big house, and think about how much Zhuang Xinyan's warehouse can produce. There is absolutely no need to worry about money for the food and bacon that hundreds of people come to eat.

"Mother, what are you talking about?" Lin Xiaoshuang blushed, not ashamed but ashamed. What his mother said made him feel ashamed, and there were people from other families around him. Even if he has no thoughts, he can't go out to meet people.What's more, his status is inconvenient, and he can only live well in the village if he lives in peace.

"What nonsense are you talking about, mother-in-law? You can't stop your mouth if you eat something?" Linde also stopped with his eyes widened.

Lin De's daughter-in-law also knew she was wrong, and although she was still a little poor, she still didn't say anything.

Lin Xiaoshuang felt a little more at ease, but her eyes fell on the corner over there involuntarily.

Even if they were the owners of the house, the two of them didn't squeeze into the room, but found a corner and sat together. They didn't know what they were talking about, and they both had smiles on their faces. Qi's smiling eyebrows were curved, and the man looked at Lin Qi with a deep warmth in his eyes.

It is enviable.

Zhuang Xin stretched out his hand and stroked the hair that fell on Lin Qi's shoulders behind him. He smiled and said, "Don't laugh too hard, your stomach will feel uncomfortable afterward."

Lin Qi placed his hands on his stomach, and raised his eyes slightly: "Who told you to tease me?"

With his hands up, Zhuang Xinyan gently pinched the tip of his nose, "Who told you not to tease me?"

Lin Qi wrinkled his nose, turned his eyes away, and said with a frown, "Where did Charcoal get a wild rabbit?"

What I saw was that the charcoal cake was walking crookedly and extremely strenuously, and there was still a hairball dangling from its mouth, but this hairball had gray and white hair, which was completely different from the previous one.

Lin Qi stepped forward, wanting to reach out again to take the fur rabbit out of Charcoal Cake's mouth.

Obviously can't bite, charcoal cakes like to run around with their mouths in their mouths, knowing that they can't walk steadily when holding them in their mouths, but they don't like to let go. The last Lin Qi managed to tease him with a bone, but now it's good, but I don't know Where did you get one.

Charcoal cake shook his head, but he didn't let go.

The saliva dripped down along the rabbit's fur.

"Leave it alone, it will put it down when it's hungry." Zhuang Xinyan said, and deliberately kicked Charcoal Cake's body with his toe.

Charcoal Gao, who was already unsteady, sat on the ground with a crooked body and two round eyes, as if he had been kicked and felt very puzzled.

Lin Qi was not happy anymore, he stretched out his foot and kicked Zhuang Xinyan's heel very lightly, he said: "Why do you always bully it."

Zhuang Xinyan was a little aggrieved, he kicked charcoal cakes not as hard as Lin Qi kicked him, and he could only blame the dog for his unsteady footing.

Dahei trotted over at this time, it didn't even give the two of them a look, it took the charcoal cake in its mouth and left.

In this way, Dahei was holding a charcoal cake in his mouth, and the charcoal cake was holding a ball of hair, which attracted many surprised eyes.

Zhuang Xinyan thought in his heart that the charcoal cake's habit of picking things up must have been learned from its mother.

About an hour later, the people from Xishan Village waited for Village Chief Lin and many officials.

When Zhuang Xinyan went out, what he saw was the village head with a hidden expression of anger and shopkeeper Yuan who appeared here.

Zhuang Xinyan didn't know what had happened until he informed the bandits of their approximate location and the officials left.

Inside a house burning with charcoal fire.

Village head Lin took a sip of cold water, but still extinguished the anger in his heart, he said: "Bandits are such a big matter, how can I talk nonsense, the people in the yamen are good, they don't even allow me to enter the door, saying that I am I must have been delusional. If I hadn’t found shopkeeper Yuan for help, I might not even be able to see the county magistrate, let alone bring someone to catch the bandits.”

As he spoke, he clasped his fists together, stood up and bowed deeply to Shopkeeper Yuan.

Yuan Yi did not refuse, but turned his body to the side.

In the end, he wasn't doing it for Xishan Village, but for Zhuang Xinyan's face.

Zhuang Xinyan handed a bowl of hot soup to the village chief and said, "They went to the mountains to catch the bandits, and they will be very grateful to you then."

Village head Lin waved his hands again and again. Although he was angry with the people in the yamen, he also knew what kind of identity he was, and naturally he couldn't accept this gratitude. Well, the county magistrate of the town is an upright official for the people."

While talking, Yuan Yi couldn't bear it anymore, he said: "Little brother Zhuang, can you give me some salted eggs?"

Don't blame him for being anxious. He knows exactly what the men in Xishan Village are doing. Seeing that these people have a lot of salted eggs in their hands, he has almost emptied the warehouse in the store. Naturally, he wants to get more. Some.

It's just that if you come to ask for goods ten times, you can get half of the chance to buy salted eggs, which is already very good.

Fortunately this time when he saw Zhuang Xinyan nodded, Yuan Yi immediately asked, "How much can I give this time?"

Zhuang Xinyan's eyes were half-closed, "Five thousand pieces, but I would like to trouble shopkeeper Yuan to help you. The eggs and duck eggs are not easy to collect now, can you ask your staff to help collect some, I will buy them from you at the market price. "

"It's a small matter, what's the relationship between our two brothers, just give you the cost price." Yuan Yi would not be willing, in the past, it was one or two thousand pieces, but now Zhuang Xinyan can let him sell him five thousand pieces at once, for him But a great thing.

Before he got the goods, he had already figured out that the five thousand salted eggs would be sent to Shangjing immediately.

Village head Lin held the bowl in both hands, and didn't interject a word about the two people's back and forth.

He was even more impressed by Zhuang Xinyan. Look, he earned a lot of money in just a few words. Others rushed to deliver the money, and when he passed by the yamen just now, the officials treated him with a lot of money. Shopkeeper Yuan had a flattering attitude. I'm afraid this person is really not simple.

However, this person actually had this kind of attitude towards Zhuang Xinyan.

While thinking about it, there was a noise outside the house.

At this time, it was half dark outside, but many people could be seen holding torches.

Village head Lin suddenly stood up: "There is a situation."

As he said that, he ran out in a hurry. At such a great age, his legs and feet were extremely agile.

Zhuang Xinyan and Yuan Yi took a step back. When they walked out, the first thing they saw was a dozen or so bandits in iron chains surrounded by officials, followed by a man with a panicked look on his face. Women and twins.

You don't need to think about it, you know the previous situation of these people.

Zhuang Xinyan didn't go forward, but saw Village Chief Lin discussing with an official. He didn't know what they were talking about, and his face showed a little bit of embarrassment, but he finally nodded in response.

Afterwards, they watched the officials pressure the bandits to leave, but those women Shuang'er were left behind.

Yuan Yi also bid farewell at this time, and said, "Then I won't bother you, and I'll meet up with Brother Zhuang tomorrow."

After waiting for Zhuang Xinyan's response, he left and followed the team of officials.

At this time, Village Chief Lin returned to the courtyard with a troubled face, and he said: "It's too late tonight, and it happened to be snowing, and the officials said that these people's clothes are too thin to walk, so let them settle in our village for a day. Someone will come to pick them up tomorrow."

In addition to these, there are two remaining officials.

No matter why the officials planned to do this, Village Chief Lin would only find it troublesome. There were about a dozen people, and they would naturally be able to settle down, but their identities made it difficult to arrange.

Zhuang Xinyan raised his brows when he heard this, and said, "The village chief is worried, our house has a lot of debris, otherwise we can relieve the village chief's worries."

Village head Lin sighed slightly, knowing that Zhuang Xinyan was refusing.

In fact, what he said just now, he really thought about asking Zhuang Xinyan to help out. After all, the dealer is so big that a dozen or so people can definitely live there.

But since he refused, Village Chief Lin didn't intend to force it, and he was right. There are no sundries in the dealer's house, and there are only treasures. Then he will regret it.

In this way, he immediately stopped this thought and turned his head to think about how to arrange it.

Zhuang Xinyan didn't join in, and when he left, he took Lin Qi back to the house to rest.

After a day of turmoil today, the two of them slept together and hugged each other tightly.

A night without dreams.

until the next day.

Lin Mashi is getting older and gets up early.

She woke up early and didn't bother Zhuang Xinyan and the others. Instead, she went to the kitchen to cook some food for them to heat up there.

Then, she thought about opening the door and helping to clean up the kitchen.

I cooked so many meals yesterday, although I cleaned them up in the end, but there are inevitably some dirty places under the candlelight.

In this way, Lin Mashi came to the door.

Reach out and open the door.

But just like that, a trace of stunnedness flashed across his face, and then a smile gradually appeared on his face.

I saw dozens of baskets, large and small, on the open space outside the door, occupying a large area.

There are eggs in the basket, some food, some winter vegetables, some pork, and some...

And these are the folks in the village who came to repay the meal yesterday.